Every spring, Easter comes around in the Church Year as a celebration of the battle Christ has won for believers everywhere. He has conquered the devil, died for your sins, and defeated death by rising to life again! He has won! This joyous occasion is coupled with beautiful music ringing out from every musical ensemble in your church. Need something to play that won’t take much rehearsal time? Try these five different options from the CPH Music Subscription. There’s no waiting to order them—just download, print, and play in minutes.
1. Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Alleluia (Organ, Inst.)
This setting by S. Drummond Wolff can be paired easily with any C or B-flat instrument for your Easter services. Composed in 4/4 time with an easy quarter- and eighth-note melody, this song is easier to learn while giving your congregation a beautiful hymn to listen to. Play during Easter services or anytime during the season of Easter to rejoice in the resurrection.
2. Awake, My Heart, with Gladness (SATB, Cong., Organ, Brass, Timp.)
This setting based on the hymn tune AUF, AUF, MEIN HERZ brings a joyous and celebratory atmosphere to your worship service. The piece opens with a triumphant introduction beginning with brass quintet and quickly joined by organ and timpani. As your choir joins in, the voices are complemented beautiful by instrumentals to truly round out this setting by Kevin Hildebrand. Try it as an offertory or closing hymn for Easter Sunday services. You can also find the full score here.
3. Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (Organ)
Benjamin M. Culli presents a setting of EASTER HYMN that is vibrant and fun for organists to play. With a running eighth-note line to introduce the hymn, you can bring the awe and joy of that Easter morning into your worship. While easier to learn, this setting does make a great challenge for organists who want to try something with a bit more difficulty while still based on a hymn that’s familiar to them.
4. This Is the Feast (Unison, Cong., Organ)
A simple setting by David von Kampen invites your congregation to join in with unison choir to be reminded that “This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.” The well-known melody line makes this easy for worshipers to pick up on from the short introduction and sing along with the choir and instrumentalists.
5. Awake, My Heart, with Gladness (3–5 Octave Handbells)
This setting of AUF, AUF, MEIN HERZ by John A. Behnke is for 3–5 octave handbell players. The opening harmonies from the bells almost feel like sunrise on Easter morning before the transition into the well-known melody from Lutheran Service Book 467. The rhythm of quarter notes followed by half notes, and variations of that, add a swing feel to the entire piece. While short, this piece would be perfect as an introduction to worship or hymn of the day.
Copyright © Concordia Publishing House.
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